Feast of the 16th of May. Church and social events on May 16

A church holiday on May 16 is a day of memory of the Monk Theodosius of Pechersky, Peter the Wonderworker of Argos and Patriarch of Constantinople Nikolai Mystic. In addition, according to the national Orthodox calendar, this day is considered to be the Moor Day of the Milkmaid. May 16 is also a secular holiday (Biographer's Day).

Patriarch Nikolai Mystic

The holiday of May 16 in the church is first of all the day of Patriarch Nikolai Mystic. He was born in Italy in 852. In his youth he came to Constantinople, where he was educated under the direction of St. Photius. A few years later, the reigning emperor Leo made him a personal secretary for secret affairs - a "mystic". And a little later Nicholas was elected patriarch of Constantinople. Shortly there was a break with the imperial family. Patriarch Nicholas did not approve of the fourth marriage of the ruler of Leo, declaring him illegal and excommunicating the emperor from the church. For which he was sent into exile in the monastery of Galakrena. However, soon the emperor forgave him and brought him back to the patriarchal throne, having displaced the post of Nicholas Efimius after his disgrace. After the death of the ruler in 913, Nicholas was appointed regent of a minor heir. During his reign, the state patriarch conducted a military expedition, crowned by victory, against the Muslims, expelling them from Italy, suppressed the uprising of Constantine Duca and defeated the Bulgarian prince Simeon, besieging Constantinople.

Church holiday May 16 - the day of Patriarch Nicholas - is celebrated in order that Christians do not forget this famous figure, who made a great contribution to the development of the church. The Mystic died on May 15, 925 and was buried in the monastery of Galakrena.

Saint Peter the Wonderworker

The feast of May 16 is also the day of Peter the Wonderworker. He was born into a wealthy family. His mother and father, two brothers and a younger sister gave up mundane life and took tonsure. Peter for a while continued to secular education, and then followed their example. The elder brother of the Wonderworker Paul was appointed bishop of Corinth. Peter followed him, but began to live outside the city in the desert. Approximately in the same period, the bishop dies in Argos, and the townspeople turn to Paul with a request to appoint Peter to the vacated post. However, Peter on this proposal refuses. But after a certain time, he still accepts it.

One of the miracles performed by these saints, in honor of which the feast was set on May 16, occurred in 927. Then the whole Peloponnese was starved. To save people from death, Peter began to give them supplies from his barns. However, soon the products ended. There was only one pitcher of flour left. Peter ordered the food to be distributed further. The flour did not end in a jug until all the hungry were full. This saint also had the gift of foresight. For example, he predicted the calamities that the state really experienced in 923-925.

Pyotr the Wonderworker died after 928. His inhabitants were claimed by the inhabitants of Argos, and the inhabitants of Navplia. As a result, the first won. Throughout the centuries, at the relics of Peter, innumerable miracles were performed.

Theodosius of Kiev-Pechersky

On the question of what holiday on May 16, there is one more answer. On this day they remember the Monk Theodosius of Kiev-Pechersky. He was born in the city of Vasilev, near Kiev, about 1036. At the age of seven, Theodosius began to study literacy, and later entered the school. The monk decided to become a monk when he was fourteen. But this is his wish was not approved by the mother. However, the boy was firm in his intentions and left the house with pilgrims to Palestine. But he could not get to the holy land. Theodosius was overtaken and forcibly returned home. However, for a short time: soon he fled to Kiev, where he took the monastic vows. At the age of 26, Theodosius was appointed hegumen of the Pechersk monastery. He died on May 16, 1074.

Moor Thrush

The memorial day of Peter the Wonderworker, Nicholas Mystic and Theodosius of Kiev-Pechersky is established by the official church. In addition, on May 16, an Orthodox holiday is celebrated - the Mausoleum of the Milkmaid, which is also called the Mavro-Green Shchi and the Mavro-Rassadnitsey. It is established in honor of the spouses of Mavra and Timothy, who lived at the end of the third century. For hardness in the faith they were subjected to cruel torture, and then crucified on the cross.

By the Green Shchi, the day of the martyr Mavra is called because in the middle of May the housewives started cooking soups from fresh greens - swans, nettles and sorrel. This allowed to restore and improve the body after the winter. The milkmaiden this holiday is named because the cows that day, having eaten fresh, recently germinated grass, gave the most delicious milk in the year.

Other holidays on May 16, 2014

May 16 also marks the day of two icons - the Svenskaya Pecherskaya Mother of God and the Kiev-Pecherskaya Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. It is believed that the latter was handed to the Greeks by the Virgin Mary herself. She appeared to them in 1073 in the Constantinople Vlaherna church. The Svensk icon is in Bryansk, in the Sven monastery. Brought to this city, she was in 1288 at the request of the blinded Prince Roman, who, after praying for her, received a miraculous cure.

Day of biographer

What holiday is celebrated on May 16? In the distant 1763 for the first time met two talented people - writer James Boswell and linguist Samuel Johnson. Their friendship lasted for many years. After 28 years, James Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson was published. The model of the work, to which all writers-biographers are equal, it is today. Since then, the day of the first meeting of friends - May 16 - is celebrated as the Biographer's Day.

Such church and secular celebrations were celebrated on May 16, 2014. This spring day is significant for believers as well as for those who write biographies of celebrities.